The Hindu : Other States / Rajasthan News : Call for benchmark on minimum wages

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 23, 2004

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Other States - Rajasthan

Call for benchmark on minimum wages

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, NOV. 22. Experts participating in a national consultation on the right to work and employment guarantee here today called for deciding a national benchmark on minimum wages for the Employment Guarantee Act proposed to be enacted by the Centre as well as the measures to deal with the State variations so as to facilitate the first-ever "universal targeting'' by the scheme.

Economists, academicians, policy makers and representatives of voluntary bodies from across the country felt that the proposed legislation would make employment guarantee sustainable if it contributes to the increase of production, creation of durable assets, provision of essential public services and improvement in the quality of life.

The two-day consultation was organised by Jaipur-based Institute of Development Studies (IDS) in association with the Planning Commission, Indian Council of Social Science Research, Oxfam India and ActionAid India to discuss the provisions of the draft Act and recommend amendments and improvements.

The noted economist, V.S. Vyas, said the aspects such as generating resources, ensuring convergence of various schemes, taking care of governance and sensitising those responsible for implementing the employment guarantee scheme were crucial for successful operation of the Act. He said an attempt should be made for empowering the people through right to work.

The Director of IDS, Sarthi Acharya, pointed out that the "project approach'' -- ensuring the availability of employment until a venture is completed -- would be more appropriate, as against the job approach, for the scheme. The administrative structure to look after the scheme, flow of funds and minimum wages were other aspects of the proposed law.

Jean Dreze, member of the National Advisory Council, said the Act would automatically create accountability of the Government and give bargaining power to the poor through universal targeting. Referring to financial implications, he said the scheme would entail an expenditure of as little as one per cent of the gross domestic product, while making a major impact on rural poverty.

Pradeep Bhargava, senior fellow of IDS, said the implementation of right to work in the shape of employment guarantee scheme, stipulated in the Central Government's common minimum programme, would give a practical shape to one of the provisions of the Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in the Constitution.

The participants felt that the nature of work to be provided under the legislation should be diversified to include labour-intensive tasks, environmental and developmental works, establishment of rural godowns, social works and cottage industrial works. The aspect of seasonal availability of employment should be taken into account to ensure that agricultural works do not suffer.

Among others, A. Basak, former Additional Chief Secretary of Maharashtra -- who was instrumental in adopting the employment guarantee law in that State three decades ago; Harsh Sethi, Consulting Editor, `Seminar'; noted economist, Kanta Ahuja; and Indira Hirway, Director, Centre for Development Alternatives, Ahmedabad, also participated in the deliberations.

Three separate groups held concurrent discussions on the features and gaps of the proposed legislation, deploying labour for asset creation, and financing of employment schemes. The findings and recommendations of the consultation will be announced tomorrow in the valedictory session to be presided over by the Planning Commission's Member, Abhijit Sen.

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